Manuscripta juridica

Formularium - Scottish Styles .

[{i}Title page:{/i}] The young clerk's companion, or, a manual for his dayly practice, wherein are contained the most absolute modern presidents[!] fitted for all occasions of present use, in a more accurate and facile method than ever yet was publish'd, being truly useful for all, but chiefly for such whose absence from the learned this will supply. Collected by an able and learned practitioner for his private use, but now communicated for a general good. Edinburgh: printed for George Holiday 1664 [{i}not wider than a credit card, and not much higer: 108 x 52 mm{/i}].

The title page alleges that the volume was printed at Edinburgh. Therefore I thought it might contain styles for use in Scotland. This hope was deluded. The work is clearly devised for English clerks only, as shown by many English names of places and legal institutions, and by English legal technical terms. No style refers to Scotland - although some are unspecific enough to be applicable in both kingdoms - e.g. styles for testaments. The percentage of Latin wording is small. The volume also contains a list of parishes in and around London, and lists of cities and dioeceses in England. Furthermore a list of English coins in use, etc.

Parallel work, again for England only:

The young clerks tutor; being a most useful collection of the best presidents[!] of recognizances, obligations, conditions, acquittances, bills of sale, warrants of attorney, etc., as also all the names of men and women in Latin ... together with directions of writs of habeas corpus ...: in this last impression is also added several of the best copies of court and chancery hands now extant. By Edward Cocker. 3rd ed. London 1664. Printed by J. Streater, and are to be sold by Robert Crofts [{i}variously attributed to John Hawkins and Edward Cocker. Letter to the reader is signed J. H. = John Hawkins?{/i}] [{i}copy at Edinburgh, Advocates Library, shelfmark TR E.139.4. NL Scotland, has multiple holdings, for instance shelfmark Mf.98, reel 1482, nr. 17 = series Early English books, Ann Arbor, Michigan, University Microfilms International, 1983{/i}]. [{i}Further editions were printed in 1685 and 1705{/i}.]

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No. of pages: Pag. 1-51, 138-263